§260 Provision of telemessaging service

Summary

Telephone companies that must follow section 251(c) and that offer telemessaging must not pay for those services using money from their local phone service or access charges, either directly or in hidden ways. They also must not give their own telemessaging business special treatment when they provide phone services. The Commission must create a complaint process for telemessaging providers that suffer material financial harm from such violations. The Commission must decide any complaint within 120 days. If a complaint shows a likely violation, the Commission must order the phone company and its affiliates to stop the harmful practice within 60 days while the case is decided. Telemessaging service means voice mail and message storage, live operator services that record, transcribe, or relay messages (not including telecommunications relay services), and related add-on services.